Coyotes killed after girl attacked in San Francisco park

San Francisco wildlife officials shot and killed three coyotes over the weekend after a five-year-old girl was attacked by one of the animals in Golden Gate Park.

The incident occurred Friday morning at the San Francisco Botanical Garden while the girl was attending her day camp. The bite was stitched up at the hospital and she was given a rabies shot, her mother, Helen Sparrow, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

The mother added that her daughter was attacked as she ran away from the animal. It is unclear why the girl was attacked, but according to SFGate, she may have been near the animal’s den.

She was expected to make a full recovery.

Two coyotes were killed Saturday and another on Monday, said Patrick Foy, a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. U.S. Department of Agriculture trappers shot the animals.

Foy said officials would conduct a post-mortem test for rabies and see if the animals’ DNA matches a sample from the girl’s bite wound.

The animal rights activist said if samples from the euthanized coyotes did not match the injury sample, the agency may have to capture and kill more animals.

The garden was closed for three days after the attack, but reopened on Monday.

Foy said coyote bites are not uncommon. Five more bites were reported in the state in June. Still, the attack in San Francisco is believed to be the first in the city in a long time.

Deb Campbell, a spokeswoman for SF Animal Care and Control, told SFGate that injuries usually occur when a person tries to keep a wild animal between themselves and their dog or other pet.

Coyotes usually stay away from people, but those that have been fed by humans or have access to food scraps or garbage may be less cautious and interactions can quickly become dangerous for both humans and animals. Anyone who comes into contact with a coyote is advised to leave the area slowly and with loud noise, taking any pets or food with them.

“They are used to living among us, so it is so important not to feed them or befriend them so that they retain their natural fear of humans,” Campbell said.